A peek into the making of Tyrekickers, a lyrics and calligraphy video.

Emerald of Chivor macro because

My videos tend to highlight a particular obsession of mine at the time they’re made. This one is all about the shimmer.

Tyrekickers is a dreamy song, and it makes me think of afternoon sun slanting into abandoned cars and bouncing off mirrors.

When I make these videos, I steady elbow and forearm against the table. I use my left hand to shoot, and my grip is awkward at best. But it works. I use a Lumix GX7 with a Leica Macro-Elmarit 45mm lens. The blur while it’s autofocusing becomes my marker for edit points.

My fave lens
My fave lens

Sweet Billy Pilgrim songs have lyrics that float somewhere in between your heart and your head, and Tyrekickers is written with a sweet restraint.

“we stifle yawns
that show our teeth
sometimes days are just a promise that we keep
under arches
badly parked
we pick the locks of our lonely little hearts”

All that shimmers is gold
All that shimmers is gold

Putting on the glitz? Many calligraphers and artists use Finetec mica watercolors. These are almost of a gouache-like opacity when used relatively dry, so you can practically spackle on the golden glimmer if you so desire. Their creaminess gives them an almost 3D effect during application, with the pigment settling as it dries.

Outtake. Still shimmery. 💖

A video posted by Leigh Reyes (@leighpod) on

Galactic level shimmer
Galactic level shimmer

J. Herbin’s Emerald of Chivor is an ink that would be at home in the farthest reaches of the galaxy, where I hear they throw the best parties. Layer Finetec atop Emerald of Chivor and you get retina burn.

Early experiment: Finetec over EoC
Early experiment: Finetec over EoC

The bright bluish emerald blends with the gold at the edges, producing a glowing green.

Emerald of Chivor macro because
Emerald of Chivor macro because
Sailor Tokiwa Matsu with Magic Indian Summer
Sailor Tokiwa Matsu with Magic Indian Summer and other things

This video featured a lot of unusual nibs. I also used a Barch-Payzant lettering pen, a folded pen, and a simple straightedge of wood.

Fun tools
Fun tools

The Kremer pearl luster pigment went straight into the Newton Prospector, joining the KWZ Honey ink that was already in it.

Newton Pens Prospector with KWZ Honey ink and Kremer Pearl Luster pigment in Colibri Star Gold
Newton Pens Prospector with KWZ Honey ink and Kremer Pearl Luster pigment in Colibri Star Gold

This is a flexible fude music nib with an overfeed. (It’s like the Cthulhu of nibs. Or the Megazord of nibs. Anyhow, it can do many tricks.)

Flexible fude music nib
Flexible fude music nib

The Romillo nib installed in the Newton Shinobi also saw a fair amount of use in the video.

Romillo nib
Romillo nib

Paper can make or break an experimental technique. My old reliable is Daler-Rowney heavyweight paper. I’ve learned to appreciate the unpredictability of Yupo. Canson XL Marker paper allows fountain pen ink and watercolor to dry on its surface without feathering, and with minimal buckling when sprayed with water.

iMovie is unfussy and renders quickly enough for my purposes. Occasionally I’ll use the stabilizer function when I need a clip to be a touch less vertigo-inducing, but that’s about it apart from the occasional use of cross-dissolve.

iMovie workspace for Tyrekickers
iMovie workspace for Tyrekickers

Hope this peek into my process is useful. Yes, I do wish I could make more videos, and explore more techniques. Someone give me a Tardis.